Gate latch



Nov. 24, 1936.

D. TENDLER GATE LATCH Filed Oct. 18, 1935 Patented Nov. 24, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a gate latch and has for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a latch so constructed and arranged relative to the gate to enable a person upon a horse, without dismounting, to shift the latch to released position and respectively open and latch the gate by a pushing action on the latter in opposite directions.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a gate latch so constructed and arranged relative to used in such connection, preventing the opening of the gate by horses or cattle, strong, durable, compact, readily assembled and installed relative to the gate body and a gate post, thoroughly "efficient when used, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

To the above ends essentially and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to and as are illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations, and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a gate showing .the adaptation therewith of a gate latch in ac- "cordance with this invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in Vertical section of the gate with the latch, in accordance with this invention applied thereto.

Figure '3 is 'a fragmentary view in top plan of the gate with the latch, in accordance with this invention, applied thereto,

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the keeper element of the latch, and

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5, Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing, l indicates a gate body of skeleton form having an outer end pair of spaced parallel vertical bars 2, an inner end pair of spaced parallel vertical bars 3, only one shown, an intermediate pair of spaced vertical bars 4, only one shown, a top bar 5, lower bars 6, a pair of upstanding oppositely inclined outer bars I and a pair of upstanding oppositely inclined outer bars 8. The bars 5, 6 are arranged in superposed relation. The bar 5 is of less length than bars 6 and extends between and is secured to the bars of the pairs of bars 3, 4. The bars 6 extend between and are secured to the bars of the pairs of bars 2, 3, 4. The bars I are arranged on the side faces of and are secured to the bars 5, 6 between the pairs of bars 2, 4. The bars 8 are arranged in the side faces of and secured to the bars 5, 6 between the pairs of bars 3, 4. Secured to the bar 5 at that end thereof which is spaced from the pair of bars 2 is a pair of parallel short bars 9 which are also secured against the side faces of a filler strip I0 positioned between, anchored to and extended inwardly from the pair of bars 2. The inner end of the inner side faces of the bars 9 are rabbeted as at II. Arranged against the rabbets and the side faces of the bar 5 is a pair of depending short spaced parallel bars l2 which, at their lower ends, are anchored to the side faces of the upper one of the bars 6. The bars 5, 9, and I2 are secured together by the holdfast means 13, Figure 3. One of the bars 1 is secured to one of the bars 9. The gate body I is arranged between a pair of spaced parallel posts I3, I4, and is removably hinged, at its inner end to the post 3, as at I5. The bars 9, filler strip I0 and bars [2 form elements of the .gate latch. The latter also includes a keeper element IS, a latching member l-l coacting with the element l6, and a combined handle and releasing element [8 for the latching member H.

The element I6 is adapted to be secured in the outer side face of post l3 and it consists of an upstanding plate 19 having a V-shaped top edge 28, an outwardly directed V-shaped stop flange 2| flush with and of less length than edge 20, openings 22 in proximity to flange 2|, and a pair of oppositely disposed spaced inner endwise aligning combined guide and lifter members 23, 24 for the latching member. The members 23, 24, for the major portion of their length, are integral with and are arranged in proximity to the bottom of plate [9. The members 23, 24 are adjacent each side of the vertical median and extend beyond the side edges 25, 26 respectively of plate IS. The members 23, 24 coact to form a latching member receiving space 21. The inner ends of members 23, constitute stops to prevent the shifting of the latching member from element it when such member is in latching position, as shown in Figure 4; that is, when the outer end of the latching member is extended into space 21. Each of the combined guide and lifting members has its top 28 of the same width as that of flange 21. The top '28 inclines upwardly from its outer to its inner end and is upon a slight curve.- The ends of the flange 2| are positioned inwardly adjacent to the side edges 25, 26 of the plate IS. The latter seats in a groove 29 formed in the outer side face of post [3. Countersunk holdfast devices 30 extend through openings '22 and engage in post l3 for anchoring element l3 thereto. The members 23, 24 extend beyond the front and rear side faces of the post it. The flange 2i is for thepurpose of retaining the latching member in the keeper element as such member moves to latching position. The

inner ends of members 23, 24 are of materially greater height than the outer ends thereof and form the side walls of space 21.

The latching member i1 is in the form of an elongated flat rectangular bar 3| disposed on its lower lengthwise edge. The bar 3! is arranged between the pair of bars 2 and the bars l2. The inner end of bar 3! is pivotally connected, as at to the bars I2. The bar 3! is of a length to extend outwardly from the pair of bars 2 to engage in the element I 6.

The combined handle and releasing element I8 is arranged between, extends above and depends below the bars 9. The element I8 consists of an upper section 33 and a lower section 34 arranged substantially centrally of the bottom of section I 33. The latter provides a handle member and is of skeleton form. The section 34 forms a lifter for the latching member. The section 33 consists of a top part 35, a bottom' part 36, a rear end part ill and an annulus 38 of materially less diameter than the height of end part 31. The annulus 33 provides the front end of element 18 and is revolubly mounted on a pivot 39 carried by the bars 9. The forward portions of the parts 35, extend toward and merge into the top and bottom of the inner side of the outer edge of the annulus 38. The rear end part 3'! curves forwardly from the lower to its upper end and merges at its upper end into the rear end of the part 35. The lower end of part 31 merges into the rear end of part 36. The part 35 extends upwardly at an inclination from its front to its rear end and is of compound curvature. The rear end terminal portion of part 35 is of substantially elliptical form, as at 40, to provide a hand grip. The part 36 includes a stretch 4| of downwardly inclined compound curvature, a straight stretch 42 merging at its forward end into the rear end of stretch 4|, an upwardly inclined stretch d3 merging at its lower end into the rear end of stretch 42, an upstanding rearwardly inclined stretch 44 merging at its rear end into the upper end of stretch 43, and a straight stretch 45 merging at its forward end intothe upper end of stretch 44. The stretch 4i merges at its forward end into annulus 38. The straight stretch 45 constitutes an abutment which coacts with a stop 46 carried by the bars 3 for arresting the lowering movement of the rear end portion of element l8. The rear end of stretch d merges into the lower end of part 31. The parts of, 36 are connected together, intermediate their ends, by a curved brace part 4'! which is integral therewith and arranged forwardly of said hand grip 4B. The straight stretch 42 of part 33 is formed with a depending apertured lug 48. The contour of the section 32 of element i8 is approximately ovoidal. The section 33 includes an upstanding bifurcated apertured shank 49 which straddles and depends from lug 48 and a depending rectangular part 58 provided with a rectangular opening 5|. The lower end of shank 49 merges into the upper end of part 50. The shank 49 is pivotally suspended from lug 48 by a pivot 52. The part 50 forms a loop for the passage of and couples the latching element H to the element l8 whereby on the elevating of the latter on its pivot the latching member will be elevated to releasethe gate body to enable it to be pushed'to open position. The length of opening BI is greater than the width of the latching member to prevent any possibility of such member binding against part 50 of the section 33 of element I8.

The member 23 or 24 acts to guide and lift the latching member to enter the space 21 when the gate is pushed in a direction to close it, and as the members 23, 24 are oppositely disposed the gate may be closed from either side thereof. The members 23, 24 also provide for the automatic latching of the gate closed, when the latter is pushed in a direction to close it.

To open the gate, the element [Bis elevated and which in turn will raise the latching member clear of space 21 in the keeper element whereby the gate will then be unlatched, then the gate is pushed forwardly to open. The foregoing action is had without one dismounting from the horse. After the rider'has passed throughthe gate, the latter is pushed rearwardly by the rider, without dismounting, to closed position and it will be automatically latched. Owing tothe arrangement and construction of the members 23, 24 and their action upon the latching member, the gate, when pushed rearwardly, will not over.- run the position in which it is to be disposed for closing. I

What I claim is: .1

1. In a gate latch, a pivoted combined-handle and pivoted latching member releasing element formed-of an upper and a lower section,-said upper section comprising a skeleton body, formed of a top, bottom, a forward end and a rear end,

said top and bottom being of greater length than the said ends, said rear end being of greater length than the forward end, said body increasing in width from its forward to its rear end,

for the passage of and for pivotally mounting said body on a pivot, said rear end-having a part thereof, intermediate its ends providing a horizontally disposed abutment adapted to be disposed in the path of a stop for arresting the;

lowering movement of the rear end of said body to maintain the latter in a horizontal position and a lug depending from said bottom intermediate the ends of the latter; and said lower section consisting of a shank pivoted to and depending from said lug and merging into a loop which forms means to encompass the latching member to slidably connect the-latter with said body whereby on the upward movement of said body said member. will be released.

2. The invention as set forth in claim -1 having said body formed intermediate its endswith a diagonally disposed brace merging'at itsv ends into the top and bottom of said body.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 1 having the top of said body of greater length thanthe bottom of the latter.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 1 having the top of said body providedwith hand gripping means at the rear portion thereof.

DAVID TENDLER said forward end being in the form of an annulus 4,5 

